Streetsville United Church Phoenix Organ Installation Diary

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." (Psalm 100:1-2)

Serving the Streetsville and Meadowvale communities since 1836.

Phoenix Organ Installation Diary at Streetsville United

At a special congregational meeting held December 15, 2002 the congregation of Streetsville United Church approved the purchase and installation of a Phoenix PD-351 Digital Organ to replace its current Keates Pipe Organ with some components dating back to 1920. This diary will attempt to log the progress of the organ's construction and installation during the spring of 2003.

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A diary describing the installation of a new Phoenix Digital Organ in the spring of 2003.

Wednesday, April 30, 2003

And now for a literally Hot organ technology .....

Not a lot to report so far this week: Rob is working on finishing the organ loft enclosure and final voicing will commence at the end of the week.

Digital Pipes In the course of this experience I have determined there are three general categories of organs used by churches:

"traditional pipe" organs

"electronic" organs - as epitomized by Hammond, Wurlitzer and Roland, amongst others, whose design involves synthesis of organ notes -- but difficult to provide an authentic traditional pipe organ experience because it cannot take into account the geometry of organ pipes in this synthesis and

"digital" or "digital pipe" organs, such as our Phoenix organ, where the notes of a traditional pipe organ are stored in memory on computer cards ready to authentically reproduce their original notes on demand (see picture). I like to think of them as "digital pipes" since this method effectively takes into account the geometry of the original organ pipes as well as relevant effects associated with the rise and fall of wind pressure during the playing of each note.

One common characteristic of all three categories of organs when purchased today -- they include a computer interface called a MIDI interface. Using it we can record, say, hymns for replay on those Sundays when our organist is absent. (OK, this is only for emergencies; we really do need the spontaneity and versatility of having a live organist.)

However, man's imagination and creative genius always comes up with another twist. We are all familiar with mobile "entertainment" organs that might be found at community fairs, restaurants and other entertainment venues. This week I learned about a new type of organ that has been traveling to some recent fairs in Germany: the Large Hot Pipe Organ -- propane powered and guaranteed to light a spark. It comes complete with a MIDI interface; theoretically our organ could be used to play its limited number of notes. You can even hear samples if you have a Windows Media Player or Real Player. Warning ... not suitable for works by Bach ... Enjoy!
Posted 4/30/2003 05:52:00 p.m. by Jim Courtney

Beginning

Phoenix Organs NA
Phoenix Organs UK
Curious Facts from Organ History
Encyclopedia of Organ Stops

Organs --The Beginnings

Invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria in the 3rd Century B.C., the hydraulis was the first keyboard musical instrument and the ancestor of the modern church organ. In 1992 Greek archaeologists recovered a fragmentary hydraulis dating from the 1st Century B.C. at the Greek city of Dion, at the foot of Mt. Olympus. Based on this example and documentary evidence, the European Cultural Centre of Delphi finished reconstructing the instrument in 1999.

Follow the links below to learn more and to view and hear the Hydraulis recently reconstructed at Delphi. (Requires Windows Media Player or Real Player)

The Ancient Hydraulis - Organ Beginnings

From the Discovery Channel
About the Ancient Hydraulis
Hydraulis Video